Known as a Hotel-in-a-Garden, the Parkroyal Collection Pickering is an award-winning sustainable hotel that, unlike many other establishments, doesn’t just talk the green talk; it is a property that walks the walk. Ong Chin Huat explores what this centrally located hotel that points the way to the future has to offer.
Located at the confluence of Singapore’s dynamic Central Business District, the serenity of Hong Lim Park, and the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, the Parkroyal Collection Pickering is the ideal hotel whether you are on business or looking for a leisurely stay in the Lion City.
Designed by the internationally renowned architects WOHA, this green oasis in the heart of town has a garden hotel concept featuring over 15,000 square metres of lush gardens, waterfalls and plant walls, which comprise twice the hotel’s total area.
Indeed, upon arrival at the lobby and after a paperless check-in, a tactile and welcoming space with undulating wooden wall features and water features leads guests to the lifts, which transport them to their floor.
Along the way, the ripples of water and the wall of self-sustaining plants and moss bring the outdoors in, setting the tone for the stay.
When guests arrive at their destination, they enter a tropical-themed setting with more plants and greenery and outdoor corridors festooned with plants and shrubs.
The natural feel also extends into the guestrooms and suites, which are flooded with natural light, forgoing the need for artificial lighting until sundown.
Being a green and eco-conscious hotel that has won numerous sustainability awards and accolades, The Park Royal Collection Pickering seems to go the ‘extra mile’ and more to live up to its name and enviable green reputation.
Inside the rooms are filtered water dispensers, which eliminates the use of plastic or glass bottles, recycling and waste separation bins and recycled composite granite used for bathtubs, sinks and vanity tops.
Natural materials like wood and stone finishes give the room an earthy vibe, while the neutral colour palette makes any guest feel like they were cocooned in a forest sanctuary, albeit a super luxurious one.
If you forget to remove your card key from the entrance slot while leaving the air conditioning on in your room, don’t worry. The Parkroyal Collection is powered by solar energy cells. Over 260 solar panels have been installed on the rooftop to help convert sunlight into energy, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions during electricity generation.
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms and suites incorporate high-performance glass that effectively blocks solar heat and significantly minimizes heat infiltration. This allows the air conditioning to operate at lower temperatures, thus conserving electricity.
Breakfast at Lime Restaurant, The Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s main eatery, is something to look forward to, not just because of the wide and delicious food on offer – from European, Asian and vegetarian options – but also because while indulging in the first meal of the day, diners can rest assured that some of the produce used come from the hotel’s urban farm located on the top floor of the hotel.
There are more than 50 varieties of vegetables to choose from, alongside fruits, herbs, and edible flowers, which have been grown in the hotel’s Urban Farm, providing carbon-neutral and eco-friendly garnishes in the Lime Restaurant and Bar.
And, who would have thought that a simple act of ordering a drink at Lime Bar would be an exercise in sustainability? Concocting signature eco-friendly cocktails that are designed with zero waste in mind, every part of the fruits used, such as the skin, pulp and seeds, are fully extracted to produce highly nutritious and delicious drinks.
The exclusive Collection Club Lounge, available for guests staying on the Collection Club floor, provides a welcome distraction from the busyness of any traveller or businessperson’s schedule. It offers a well-curated selection of delicious food, snacks, and drinks for breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. And don’t let the fact that it’s a lounge fool you into thinking you cannot feast on the fare there.
A chef is on hand at a live station prepping food a la minute, such as freshly made Lobster Ravioli and pan-seared scallops with Peperonata. Other options on offer include Sushi Gunkan Salmon Avocado, Cha Soba with Edamame and Kimchi, Duck Rillette on Sesame Cone, Fried Cheesy Chicken Ball, Tempura Fish Cocktail, Streamed Chicken with Yan and Carrot, Orange with Yuzu Konnyaku Jelly, and a fresh fruit platter and imported fine cheese with condiments.
Striking to look at from the outside, The Parkroyal Pickering stands out among Singapore’s skyscrapers simply because the three-tower structure is festooned with verdant greenery, providing a welcome sight for sore or screen-tired eyes in this urban setting.
With more than ten species of shaded trees, tall palm flowering plants, leafy shrubs and overhanging creepers on the exterior of the building, this garden-inspired hotel induces the same sense of calm and serenity on the outside as it does on the inside.
The Parkroyal Collection Pickering also collects and recycles rainwater with automated irrigation while rooftop photovoltaic cells power the garden lights. Further, auto-irrigation and fertigation systems installed for all the planter areas ensure that through timer-controlled drip nozzles, slow and steady precise amounts of water and nutrients are provided to the trees and plants, saving the hotel a not-so-inconsiderable six million litres of water a year.
For further information about the Parkroyal Collection Pickering, please visit www.panpacific.com/pickering.